Health Reform Benefits Begin Now

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 is scheduled to end the insurance industry's limited practice of rescinding health insurance policies after they have been issued and allow families to continue covering young adults to age 26, on September 23, 2010.  

These provisions will benefit some of the estimated 27,000 that the National Association of Insurance Commissioners reported had individual health policies terminated through rescission.  The provisions will also help millions who are graduating from high school but not intending to go on to college, or those who have completed their college education, but don't have employer provided health coverage.  It will also benefit those who can attend college only part time, and therefore have not been able to continue coverage as a dependent in family health plans.  

After the March 23 signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 by President Obama, and this April 23 Reuters story, which describes instances in which WellPoint rescinded the health policies of women suffering from breast cancer, health insurers are beginning to get into the spirit of health reform.  WellPoint provided this response, to the Reuters story.  But most importantly, the company made the policy decision that it will implement the health reform law's provisions on rescission effective May 1, nearly five months earlier than required.  The company also announced that it will begin allowing dependents to be covered in family health plans to age 26, again, nearly five months sooner than required.  WellPoint's announcement is here.  It is the insurer for 35 million Americans. 

Other health insurers are getting into the act.  UnitedHealthcare announced here that it is implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provisions on rescission immediately, and extending coverage to graduating students effective immediately, benefiting its 56 million members.  

Cigna, with 11.1 million members, has announced here it will extend coverage to dependents to age 26 effective June 1, nearly four months earlier than required.

Aetna, with 18.7 million insured, said here that it will extend coverage to young adults before the date required by the health reform law.

Most provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will be implemented over the next four years, but now that we have made a collective decision to do something about healthcare, several of the largest health insurers in the country are taking positive steps to implement that decision.  That's good for all Americans!